Research, Policy and Planning

Objective: This paper aims to identify older people’s preferences from a range of supported living environments. It compares the importance of privacy and physical space, physical care, domestic services, security, social activities, and control or autonomy in future accommodation. Random sampling procedures were used to draw a proportional sample of people aged 70 years and over from each rural community (N=423) in Gwynedd, North Wales as part of the HAPPI (Housing for an Ageing Population: Planning Implications) project. A questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. The findings show that more participants rated privacy and physical space and control of life as important, compared with the other domains. Participants were most likely to indicate that sheltered housing would meet their needs in each of the domains. The paper concludes with implications for planning of supported living environments.